Microsoft Is Said to Plan Preview of New Windows Tablet Operating
System
By Ian King and Dina Bass - May 27, 2011 4:14 AM GMT+0800
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will preview its Windows operating system designed
for tablet computers in demonstrations planned for next week, according to three
people with knowledge of the company’s plans.
The company will showcase the software’s touch-screen interface running on
hardware with an Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) Tegra chip, said the people, who declined
to be identified because the plans are confidential. Windows President Steven
Sinofsky is scheduled to present at the All Things D conference, while Vice
President Steve Guggenheimer will address the Computex show in Taipei.
Microsoft is rushing to adapt Windows to better support devices that can
compete with Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPad, which dominates the tablet market. The
new operating system won’t be out until next year, people familiar with the
plans said in March. Still, the company is eager to show it is moving forward,
seeking to generate demand among computer makers and chip suppliers.
Nvidia’s Tegra microprocessor is based on the ARM Holdings Plc (ARM)
technology that dominates the smartphone market. ARM-based chips are also used
in the iPad and tablets that run Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android operating system.
Mark Martin, a spokesman for Microsoft, declined to comment. The company’s
shares rose 48 cents, or 2 percent, to $24.67 at 4 p.m. New York time on the
Nasdaq Stock Market. Nvidia gained 46 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $18.82.
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said earlier this week that
machines with the new operating system, which he referred to as Windows 8, would
be released in 2012.